BRIDE WARS
US, 2009, 92 minutes, Colour.
Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway, Kristen Johnston, Candice Bergen.
Directed by Gary Winick.
In the last ten years, moviegoers fond of Hollywood films have seen wedding planners, wedding singers, wedding crashers and a perennial bridesmaid with 27 dresses. For audiences who liked 27 Dresses and looking at bridal magazines, then Bride Wars is as good as any other.
It is confetti-lite.
The plot is fairly simple. Two childhood friends have an ambition to be June brides at New York's Plaza Hotel. Liv (Kate Hudson with black eye make-up and blonde hair which make her look a little sinister) and Emma (Anne Hathaway, no complaints) confide in each other, rely on each other – and become engaged at the same time. And, if you have seen the trailers or ads, you know that their bookings go wrong and they are both set for the same day, same time. Who will give way? The bridal wars are on and there are no holds barred (mean tricks, sabotaging beauty treatments...).
It's all more or less as you would expect, not a comedy of big laughs but a cheery (if some of the tactics can fall into that category), smiling entertainment. Candice Bergen (who brought The Women to life) is welcome as the haughty, never-make-an-error wedding planner.
For those not completely enthralled by wondering who will win and who might be speculating on how it will all end, it was not quite what was expected. Expecting, however, is the key word for the final sequence – which could lead to a sequel, Christening Wars.
1.The popularity of films about weddings? The background, the personalities, the struggles, the rituals, the glamour?
2.The urban setting, families, New York City, shops, homes, the hotel plaza? The musical score? The songs?
3.The title, indication of themes?
4.The prologue, Emma and Liv and their childhood, growing up, their families, parents, deaths? The hotel plaza outing? Their plans, hopes? The June wedding?
5.The personality of Liv: Kate Hudson, her appearance? Tough, negotiations and the boardroom? Her friendship with Emma, sharing everything? Her brother? Her family? The plans, the fiancé, the hope for the proposal? The actual proposal, the ring? The plans for the wedding?
6.Emma, Anne Hathaway’s presence and style? Her work, teaching? Her fiancé, the proposal? The contrast with the humorous aspects of Emma’s (**LIV’S?) proposal and the mix-up about the ring?
7.Sharing, jogging, talking? Going to see Marion? The wedding planner? Her assistant and her coldness – and later making the mistake?
8.The interview with Marion, her severity, the plans, the dates? The contracts? The mistake – and the reactions? Each of them talking about someone having to give way? Their refusal? Going to see the bride on the fixed date and trying to change her, her refusal?
9.The decisions, the beginnings of the clash? The mean tricks they played on each other – the makeup, the blue hair, the videos? The bookings? Their personal clashes?
10.The wedding plans, the maids of honour? Emma and her going to see Deb, her history with Deb at school, Deb manipulating her into taking her jobs? Emma reading the riot act and Deb helping her out? The contrast with Liv, Kevin at the office, his helping out, participating in the mean tricks – especially at the end with the video?
11.Emma’s brother, his concern, friendship with Emma?
12.The bridal dresses, the preparations of the details? The day itself? Dressing, meeting in the corridors, their bonds?
13.The video, Emma and her intrusion, the fight in the aisles? Purging the angers? The reconciliation? Emma and her talking with Fletcher, the realisation that they were not getting married, his irritation with her? Liv’s brother coming to the rescue?
14.The weddings, happiness all round? One year later? Pregnancies? Anticipating on the same date?
15.The niche audience, those who love weddings? The humour – and the light touch?
